Advocate Training
Click here to read the cover sheet before completing the application.
Click here for an application.
There are two components of the advocate training session: classes and core groups. Included within the sessions are lectures, tours of facilities, group discussions, role-play activities, readings, and evaluations. The training session lasts approximately 10 weeks. The first 8 weeks are classes and core groups and then the following 2 weeks are to complete several evaluations. This ensures that our advocates are well prepared to work with clients. All told, the training encompasses approximately 40 hours.
A person must have the time to complete the entire training session and then be willing to provide a minimum of 12 months of volunteer services once the training session is completed. A minimum of 3 on-call shifts per month per advocate is expected. Because of this, only individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to working with victims are accepted into the training. Advocates learn to be good listeners, empathetic helpers, and knowledgeable paraprofessionals. The volunteers are dedicated, caring, and energetic people who are hired into a variety of positions helping others. They have gone on to have careers as sexual assault program coordinators, lawyers, teachers, medical doctors, victim assistance program advocates, mental health counselors, volunteer coordinators, social workers, and much more. Over and over, we have heard back from volunteers that the training they received from the SAAFE Center was the deciding factor in getting their jobs!
“I love being able to work with different people knowing that victims are not of one race, or sex, or age, and knowing that I help all types of people.” –SAAFE Center Advocate for 2 years